(Photo by US Department of Agriculture)(Words by Megan Dunn, Healthy People and Communities Program Director) After several public meetings and over 1000 oral and written comments, Oregon has decided to adopt two new Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) that would allow people in worker housing to “shelter in place” when the grower sprays within the 100-foot application exclusion zone of their housing[i]. Previously federal law required a 100-foot radius where pesticides are being sprayed near workers, but this new law allows spraying within 100 feet if workers are sheltered inside a building. NCAP, along with several farmworker groups, unions and other environmental groups, strongly opposed the rule changes. Continue reading

What would happen if bees ceased to exist? It's a question our Business League supporter, GloryBee, asks you to consider. GloryBee started in the family garage of Dick and Pat Turanski in 1975. In the Pacific Northwest, they've been supplying honey and other quality ingredients to natural food manufacturers, bakeries and markets for over forty years. As a certified B Corporation, they are demonstrating their honest progress towards the goal of being a leader in sustainability and healthy living. They're also on a mission to #SavetheBee and supply tips and strategies on how to help in their Save the Bee blog. Continue reading

For more than 15 years NCAP has been working to protect salmon from pesticides. And while we've had victories along the way, we've also had some major setbacks. Under the current administration, it’s about as bad as it’s ever been. NCAP’s goal has not changed. We want the federal government to make policy decisions that actually protect salmon from pesticide use, not put them at risk. But our government is undermining that goal. We need your help now more than ever! Read on to see what you can do to help. Continue reading

(By Megan Dunn, Healthy People and Communities Program Director) NCAP is excited to announce the passage of a Washington state bill (E2SSB 6529) to examine pesticide application safety and drift. Agricultural workers and surrounding community members should be protected from pesticide exposure and notified of pesticide applications before they occur. The passage of this bill is a positive step in that direction. Continue reading

(By Gina Gervase, Communications Assistant) Maybe your traditional lasagna recipe doesn’t call for coffee grounds, blood meal, sawdust, or pine needles, but we promise our recipe for “lasagna” mulch will make your garden very happy. Similar to the layering of noodles, sauce, vegetables, and cheese, lasagna mulching is built with layers of soil nutrients. Continue reading